UCL Reaction

Champions League

//19 Jun 2017

Following Monday’s UEFA Champions League second qualifying round draw against Rosenborg BK some Dundalk FC players give their reaction to dundalkfc.com

Chris Shields
‘Rosenborg is obviously going to be a difficult game, they’ve got great pedigree and have been in the group stages many times. As a kid I grew up watching them in the Champions League and they’ve won their fair share of Norwegian leagues.

‘I have no doubt they will be a tough team, they’ve a lot of experienced players but we will take confidence from last year and not be afraid of any team we come up against. It will be interesting, I know the draw was made today but it’s kind of hard to put it to the back of the mind, but we have to – and focus on the league games that come before that.’

Patrick McEleney
‘It’s a big draw and Rosenborg are a good side from what I know of them. I think any team we could have faced would have been difficult but I’m excited and looking forward to it and I’ve no doubt it will be a good experience.

‘I think the performances in Europe last season can only stand to us. We now have that belief to go and beat big teams so we’re really looking forward to it.’

Gary Rogers
‘You’re never going to get an easy draw in the Champions League, Rosenborg are a top class side. In the early 2000’s they were untouchable in Norway, they’ve slipped a bit for a couple of years but they are back on top now and it’s going to be a really tough draw.

‘I think our form in Europe over the last few seasons we’ve shown that we’re capable of playing and beating teams of this calibre so we should be really positive going into the game and we are looking forward to the challenge.’

Dane Massey
‘Rosenborg isn’t a bad draw, we avoided Celtic and a couple of the other big names but Rosenborg are going to be tough. I don’t think it mattered who we drew it was going to be hard for us and being unseeded it’s an uphill battle so we look forward to it – we gained great experience last season in the group stages of the Europa League.

‘We are all really looking forward to it, I don’t think it mattered who we got as we just want to get out there and play.’

Ciarán Kilduff
‘These draws are always exciting as you’re always thinking of who you can get. When you see teams like Celtic in the pot you maybe don’t want to draw them because of the class that they hold but then the other part of you thinks it would be such a great occasion.

‘I think we have got to be happy enough with the draw in terms of our ambition to process. We played FH last year and turned them over in what was a tight game and I’d imagine Rosenborg will be something similar.

‘They are a massive club with great history, they are always in around the group stages and qualifying stages they’re always a tough opposition. We will take that draw and we will go and do our homework on them. We have some league games in between but it will be all systems go for that because on the back of last season it would be great to follow that up.’

Next Match

V

A Premier Division match between Dundalk FC vs Cork City

Premier Division

Dundalk FCvCork City

Friday 29 Mar, 7:45PM,

Oriel Park, Ireland

League Table

Team

P

PTS

GD

Shamrock R

7

16

9

Dundalk

6

12

7

Bohemians

6

11

2

Cork City

6

10

1

Derry City

6

8

1

St Patricks A

6

8

-1

Sligo Rovers

6

7

-3

Waterford FC

6

7

-3

UCD

6

4

-4

Finn Harps

7

2

-9

Last Updated: 15 March 10pm

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